HEADLINE: Citibank's
New Access Account Offers Affordable 'Checkless' Checking and Other Financial
Services for 'Unbanked' Consumers; 'Starter' Bank Account Will Also Appeal to
Other Consumers

DATELINE: NEW YORK, Nov. 17, 2003

BODY:

Citibank today introduced the new Citibank Access Account, the
most comprehensive bank account specifically designed to meet the needs of the
approximately 12 million United
States households that do not fully utilize
banking services - or any at all - and other consumers with limited banking
transaction needs.

"We know there are a
lot of people in this country who don't participate in the banking system. They
may feel they don't have enough money to open an account or think they can't
afford one; they may be intimidated by the financial system, or just feel there
is not an account that's right for them," said Ajay Banga, President of
Retail Banking, North America at Citibank. "Most banks don't even have a
product to offer them. We were determined to come up with a quality product
that knocks down entry barriers and makes it easy for them to bank. The
Citibank Access Account is designed to bring these people into the financial
system and help them become part of mainstream America," Mr. Banga added.

The Access Account is the
only "starter" account offered by a major bank that offers such a
wide range of low-cost and easy-to-use financial services. The Citibank Access
Account will make it easy for consumers to improve their financial security and
plan for the future. One of the account's major distinctions is
"checkless" checking, because check writing has been identified as a
major obstacle for many "unbanked" consumers.

Citibank expects the
Access Account will appeal to other important consumer groups, as well, given
the simple financial solutions it offers. When the Access Account was piloted
in Chicago
earlier this year, Citibank found that a diverse range of customers was
attracted to it, including recent immigrants, senior citizens, students,
technology-savvy people, and consumers with limited banking needs.

In a paper to be published
in the Yale Journal on Regulation in January, Michael S. Barr, Assistant
Professor of Law at The University of Michigan, and an expert on the topic of
the unbanked, said, "Access to basic financial services is critical to
success in the modern American economy." In the article, he notes that
debit-card based accounts "may be particularly suited to low income,
unbanked persons" and that pursuing these kinds of strategies can help to
"transform financial services for low-income persons."

"If families are to
improve their financial position and be ready for the important milestones in
their lives, they must have access to quality financial services," said
Maura Markus, President of Citibanking North America, Retail Distribution
Group. "By addressing the basic transaction needs of consumers, the Access
Account will relieve them of the risk of carrying a lot of cash and help them
establish a financial gateway to build credit and assets. We named this new
Citibank account 'Access' because it is the easiest and most cost-effective way
for unbanked consumers to access the quality services provided by the world's
leading financial institution.

"We believe that no
other bank has addressed the needs of unbanked consumers with a product that
offers the range of financial services, customer support and remittance
services offered by the Access Account. Citibank is proud to make this new
account available to those who will benefit from it, and we look forward to
serving their individual financial needs for many years," Ms. Markus
concluded.

The Access Account
features easy and low-cost remittance and funds transfer options. For example,
Banamex, the largest bank in Mexico,
and Citibank are both member companies of Citigroup, so the Access Account is
able to offer a number of ways to send money to relatives and friends in Mexico. Real-time
fund transfers can be sent to Banamex for as little as $5.00 per transfer.
Transfers to Citibank accounts in countries in Europe and Asia
are also attractively priced.

Other features of the
Citibank Access Account include:

-- "Checkless"
checking. The Access account does not feature checks, but allows customers to
make free, unlimited bill payments through Citibank Online, in English or
Spanish and through the bank's automated phone system. Account holders may also
receive a MasterCard debit card for cash withdrawal and point-of-sale
transactions. The account offers unlimited Citibank ATM transactions.

-- No minimum balance or
opening deposit requirement. The Access Account does not require a minimum
balance either to open or maintain the account. Customers will have access to
Citibank services regardless of their account balance. In addition, Citibank's
$3.00 monthly maintenance fee will be waived for Access customers who arrange
direct deposit of recurring deposits, such as payroll, Social Security or
entitlement funds.

-- Easy-to-understand
statements. Customers can ask to receive their statements in English or
Spanish.

-- Access to a wide range
of Citibank's banking products.Customers will be eligible for a wide range of Citibank services including
a line of credit linked to their account, a secured credit card and a
complimentary Citipro financial needs analysis, among others.

-- Dedicated customer
service. The Access Account will be supported by dedicated telephone customer
service in English, Spanish and Chinese. Customer service representatives will
be available to train and familiarize Access Account customers with the
services available to them.

Consumers interested in
learning more about the Access Account should call 1-866-335-1191 (English), or
1-800-967-4984 (Spanish), visit www.citibank.com or stop by their nearest
Citibank location.

Citigroup (NYSE: C), the
preeminent global financial services company with some 200 million customer
accounts in more than 100 countries, provides consumers, corporations,
governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and
services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment
banking, insurance, securities brokerage, and asset management. Major brand
names under Citigroup's trademark red umbrella include Citibank, CitiFinancial,
Primerica, Smith Barney, Banamex, and Travelers Life and Annuity. Additional
information may be found at: www.citigroup.com.